Most people we’ve met in Alaska are from somewhere else, so we’ve heard many stories of people coming to Alaska for a vacation and never leaving. A very unique synergy develops with so many people living in communities because of their intentional commitment to be there – everyone becomes a tour guide.

Alaskans are eager to share which restaurants are the favorites of locals, what to see and do while in their community, and which “tourist traps” to avoid. This phenomenon has occurred in every town we’ve visited – from the 750 person village of Talkeetna to 150,000 in Anchorage.

Our camping neighbors in the Talkeetna Camper Park , Marlyne & Dennis, are wonderful ambassadors. They invited us to join them for a great 4th of July feast along with some of their other friends. When they learned that our next stop was Anchorage, they spent a major portion of the evening giving us tips about their city. Before we parted they had invited us to another dinner – at their home in Anchorage a few days later.

Not only did they recommed a place for us to camp, they even stopped by and personally checked out the campground on their way home so they could report by email that it was the right choice! And I must say, the State Park they recommended was a wonderful antidote to our shock at the 1st traffic jams we’ve seen since leaving Vancouver in late April. The places they told us to see and the restaurants they recommended were all great. Thank you, Marlyne & Dennis, for your hospitality, and especially for that fantastic home-cooked dinner! It was a real treat!